50 Best Italian Restaurants in Richmond

“We’ve had phenomenal meals, drinks, and service here. We’ve also had underwhelming experiences on all counts here, including our most recent visit. Service here is typically stellar but last week it took 20 minutes to be greeted by our server once seated, and then another 20 after ordering drinks to receive those. This was at 8 pm on Wednesday night when they were not overly busy. My husband’s pasta was very undercooked and the sauce was just OK. My fish was fine but it’s the only main on their menu that someone who is gluten sensitive and avoids red meat (and the fish is served on rice with sausage) can have. So despite an often changing menu, this fact never seems to change. We’ll almost certainly go back and try again but do wish their hits outnumbered their misses.“

“We had a great time and had delicious food! Our waiter Trey was amazing!“

“Just left from their. Got the greek meatball appetizer (big enough for a meal) and a small greek salad and a bloody mary. ALL of it was terrific. My MIL got a crab sandwich and it was really good as well. The onion rings were the best I ever had.“

“First of all, I want to thank Chef Jealender for having the good fortune to meet him, who makes the magnificent Carbonara, and everything was delicious. I also want to thank the waiter Alejandro for such a magnificent experience making the Carbonara in front of us. Everything was spectacular. I recommend this place 100%.“

“First time at Edo’s last night. There was a couple walking up the stairs in front of us as we went in, and when we got to the door, a waitress said “I need that cup” and yanked it out of the woman’s hand as she walked off. She was the same waitress that sat us, but not who took our order. The waitress who took our order was extremely rude almost the entire time. A couple of times she brought food out and put it on our table AS she’s walking by. I stopped her once, to ask if we could have our bread warmed as it was cold. She barely stopped as she said “no.” And continued walking. The waitresses were rude and made me feel so uncomfortable with their terrible attitudes. Atmosphere is a little cramped but it was fine. The food was AMAZING though. It was really hot, and the pasta portions were GENEROUS.“

“Lemoncello on point as well pasta!“

“The food and the staff is amazing highly recommended.“

“We ate at La Grotta for the first time last night. It will be the first of many! The service, food, and ambiance were spectacular. We were a party of 3 and each of us cleaned our plates. Our friend with Celiac could choose from almost the entire menu which is unheard of, especially at an Italian restaurant. If you're looking for a truly delicious meal, you'll find it at La Grotta! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Truly enjoyable meal in a great neighborhood restaurant. Everything was delicious and the service excellent. We enjoyed a lovely cauliflower appetizer, a beautiful, simple fresh salad. Three of our party enjoyed the rock fish. The 4th had an amazing sea food stew with spaghetti. Clearly a favorite of the locals. You won’t be disappointed. (Best to make a reservation.) A little noisy…..“

“I've been going to Carini's since they opened in '78. our family have continued to be loyal customers. The food is always excellent!“

“They have great food is all I gotta say! Go see yourself!!! I'm pretty sure you will give it a 10 after you get done eating there!“

“We have had takeout several times - pasta, pizza and more. The food has been consistently good!“

“Absolutely the best Italian restaurant in RVA. Go tonight, what are you waiting for?!“

“First time eating here. The decor and ambiance was great. The vibe was good. Our waitress Kelly was awesome. The food was DELICIOUS & portions were hearty! There is outdoor dining with heat lamps and fireplace. We ate inside and got to watch the bartender work his magic. The drinks were delish too! Overall, this little gem is too good to miss!“

“Found Dinamo quite by accident. A Richmond-centric publication mentioned Dinamo as an aside in relation to another restaurant that had since closed. When we discovered Dinamo was still open (later evening) we decided to give it a whirl. The whirling airplane prop in the front window indicated that, at the very least, things would be not boring. We were coming in towards the end of service and were nonetheless greeted with warmth. Firstly, the bread got me baking again. No small feat. They were out of the T-Bone, which is what both of us were aiming for, and recommended the chicken. I dont like chicken. This chicken was amazing. Im still thinking about the bread and the beans. And the chicken. The Tiramisu was just, simply, decadent. Service, ambiance, food, hospitality…. Cant wait to return Dinamo. We added the“

“Nice place, friendly atmosphere, friendly staff, tasty food, big portions, good size menu (variety), clean and organized.“

“when I get to heaven and walk thru the pearly gates, Veal Mona Lisa, Calamari, and Tiramisu will be waiting... I drove 100 plus miles for this“

“Frank recommended the veal chop special on Friday night. We both got it. The sauce was so delicious with chunks of portobello mushrooms. AMAZING flavor!! I brought home half of mine to savor again. Can’t wait!“

“Great food and service but not much wine choices“

“Oysters were great ! Our server was nice but was not very attentive. Loved the beans. The “bus boy?” Kept water glasses filled but his attire didn’t seem appropriate for the restaurant. All in all I would return“

“If you come here come for the 90s italian atmosphere. Weird nostolgia kickMozerella stix - Only get fresh not takout. Mid at best marinara.Mozerella mix not very goey, hence get hot.Fries- over cooked extra brown. Ok for being that.Chicken parm - slight chlorine taste in chicken. Might still eat again?Pizza veggie - mid' not greasycheaper end of price range is +“

“Excellent food and Service!“

“What an amazing experience. This is a very unassuming place! We travel and try not to eat at chains.. Tony's didnt disappoint! Amazing service, and food all at a better than reasonable price.. go hungry!“

“Great waiter.

Parking: Service and food are great every time.

Kid-friendliness: Kids love the friendly staff. Portions are just right.

Wheelchair accessibility: Tables are spaced wide apart for maneuvering.“

“Been eating here for almost 45 years. Maria & the staff are always happy to see you. Best pizza in the area. Subs are excellent as well. Love Sal's!“

“This hidden gem is without question the best restaurant in Richmond. Perfect for date night or a fun meal with friends. The owners create a true family atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re eating in their grandmas kitchen. Can’t recommend highly enough!!“

“THE BEST AND AUTHENTIC IN GUATEMALAN GASTRONOMY!! DELICIOUS FLAVOR!! AFTER I ATE; I WAS SO SATISFIED WITH THE PLACE FOR ITS FOOD. I THOUGHT LEAVING 50 DOLLARS NOT FOR TIP; IF NOT AS AN OFFERING SO THAT THE OWNER OF THAT PLACE CAN START REMODELING THE RESTAURANT AND MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL..... IF ANYONE DARE TO PUT A BOX FOR US TO DONATE AND THE RENOVATION CAN BE DONE... I SUPPORT EVERYTHING WELL“

“Great pasta Owner super friendly“

“Very good service and atmosphere. The food overall was very good but their trademark complimentary salad was not as expected. The dressing did not taste like it usually does. Not sure what changed with the salad dressing, but it was not what we usually get from the Olive Garden franchise.“

“Look I've been to a lot of Olive Gardens in my life and I've had mediocre, great, and poor experiences. However, we genuinely had the best experience we've ever had a few days ago by our server Marcus.
Seriously, not once did we have to wait for anything. Refills, check-ups, appetizers, and the check were done with expedience and attention. Amazing personality & atmosphere brought to our table by him. Not only that, but he gave us extra soup and refills with our boxes!
Thank you for the experience :)“

“First time ever and it was AMAZING… Justin was the best waiter with a great attitude… food was delicious and you couldn’t beat the take home price… can’t wait to return:)“

“I came in for lunch while working in the city and wasn’t disappointed.

The slice of pizza I got was good and the sub was great. The fries that came with the sub were top tier, probably the best fries of any pizza place I’ve been to.
I received excellent customer service. The staff were very friendly. The dining area was clean which is always refreshing to see.
The menu is pretty varied, there’s definitely something for everyone. My only regret is I wasn’t able to try everything on it in one sitting!

All in all, I give it 5 stars. Quick service, great food and I know for a fact I’ll be back to eat there next time I’m near the city.“

“Sprezza is a wonderful new restaurant finding its footing in Richmond. It brings authentic Italian cuisine that is unique from any other Italian restaurant in our city. The food is full bodied and quite the experience each time I’ve been. The focaccia is so yummy!The menu is designed like a classic Italian menu with courses so you can enjoy multiple dishes. How often do you get to have fresh pasta followed by a second course?Service is impeccable giving you a fine dining experience.The owner, Angela, is very warm and you can tell she is very passionate about food. She is bringing a piece of Italy to Richmond so we can experience the food without crossing an ocean.I would 100% recommend this restaurant for a nice occasion especially if you are a foodie.Keep in mind that this is a new and growing business that will only thrive with the support of the community.I can tell there is a lot of love and thought put into creating the menu. Delicious! 10/10. I always leave with a happy stomach.“

“Always a friendly and delightful dining experience. The food has always been consistently good. Perfect for the whole family and parties. They serve large portions so you are sure to leave satisfied. They also have an excellent drink and wine selection. Also fairly affordable.“

“A great place to dine. We are new in town and wanted to try a new place near our home. The food was delicious, generous serving and the staff was very friendly. We are going back very soon!“

“Yum! We ordered take out for the first time ! The fried calamari was delicious (only downside small serving). Chicken parm dinner with capellini, perfect thin chicken with delicious sauce. Linguine with white clam sauce definitely authentic and tasty. Meatball sub devoured by my son. And those homemade chips a hit. We are from NJ and my husband’s family is Italian. Highly recommend!“

“We booked this restaurant for a meal with another couple before a concert at the nearby Modlin Center. We arrived at opening time and the place filled quickly but never got too noisy to hear our conversation. Our server, Kevin, was the best. Obviously very experienced he was attentive without being intrusive and very professional. Each of our meals was delicious, hot, and enjoyable, but the size was ENORMOUS. We each took home about 50% of what we were served, so come here with a good appetite. We will probably meet here again before concerts in the future.“

“Great sandwiches. Our first time here but we will be back.“

“Loved it!! Had not been there in years-will definitely be back!!“

“ordered the steak and cheese to go,and it was a pretty good sandwich.My only observation is that they need to update the prices on the online menu.My actual price was about 30% more!“

“If you live in downtown Richmond Virginia , this is the only spot you should be ordering from. Extremely good people that care about the food they put out. Can’t recommend enough!“

“La pizza es completamente deliciosa, el servicio , las instalaciones 🙌🙌“

“Visit today 7/18/25 at 5 pm , party of 3 people. We felt welcomed from the moment we walked in the door! Food was great, atmosphere felt authentic. Our lady who served us was so sweet and kind. Empanadas and pork dishes highly recommend! We will definitely be back and recommend! Parking lot and easy to find.“

“Fantastic and warming atmosphere“

“This was always my got to pizza when I was a student at VCU. It’s the perfect New York style pizza. Sometime I ask for it well done and it hits very similar to a New Haven pizza. I was obsessed with this place and anytime I can I always recommend it. I was once at the restaurant when the owner was there and he showed me how they made their dough, grinder their own cheese and created their own mix of cheeses. He wouldn’t give me too much info on the mix but what ever they are doing it’s working. The only thing I will say is that the pizza is very dependent on who is making it and how busy they are. I usually plan to order my pizza mid week. I also don’t ever get delivery.“

“Meatball pizza! We also got the mozzarella balls. Real mozzarella, folks! 🤤🤤🤤“

“It’s a cheap pizza buffet, but it’s worth more than what you pay. The food is always fresh and replenished. The staff is super attentive and friendly. Decent salad bar and some other options like pasta, soup, and deserts. Plenty of space to bring a family or friend group. Weekends are pretty packed so I like to go for an early week day lunch or dinner. I loved this place as a kid 25 years ago, and it is even better than I remember. I recommend this place to all of my friends and family.“

“Little times you come to a place and you feel inspired to leave a review. This one was one of those, clean, quiet, peaceful , the food incredible, the service better, the bathrooms neat, so come here w/o hesitation. Ah the portion BIG and the price great. Thank you Mike's.“

“We are business neighbors of Joe's pizza and a review is long over due. As a catering company, we spend so much time cooking for others and never for us! So when lunch time rolls around Joe's is our 'go-to'. Everything is ALWAYS tasty and portions generous. The size of a slice of pizza blew my nephews mind. Haha. Our order is filled quickly and accurately every single time. And the icing on the cake is that they hand deliver our order to our business so that we can get back to work while it is being prepared. The family that runs it is also always a pleasure to interact with. Hats off to Joe's Pizza!“